Protective cover mechanism

ABSTRACT

A protective cover mechanism includes a housing, a protective cover and a latching piece. The housing includes an opening defined therethrough. The latching piece is assembled to the housing adjacent to the opening and comprises two holding arms. One holding arm defines a first locating portion and a second locating portion. A protective cover comprises a hinged post formed thereon, the protective cover is rotatably assembled to the housing by means of the latching piece with the hinged post held between the two holding arms. The protective cover is configured for selectively covering or exposing the opening of the housing as the hinged post is rotated from the first locating portion to the second locating portion.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This exemplary disclosure generally relates to protective covermechanisms used with electronic devices.

DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART

Portable electronic devices such as mobile phones and personal digitalassistants (PDAs) are now widely used. Many portable electronic devicesinclude a touch screen and a touch stylus. The portable electronicdevice usually defines an accommodating hole to receive the stylus.

However, when the stylus is taken out for use, the accommodating hole isexposed to the outside, allowing contaminants such as dust and moistureto enter. The contaminants could negatively affect the performance ofthe portable electronic device.

Therefore, there is room for improvement within the art

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Many aspects of the exemplary protective cover mechanism can be betterunderstood with reference to the following drawings. The components inthe various drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasisinstead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of theexemplary protective cover mechanism. Moreover, in the drawings, likereference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout thediagrams.

FIG. 1 shows an exploded perspective view of the protective covermechanism, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the protective cover shown in FIG. 1,in accordance with an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 3 shows an assembled perspective view of the protective covermechanism, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of the protective cover mechanism,wherein, the cover is in a closed state.

FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of the protective cover mechanism,wherein, the cover is in an open state.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In this exemplary embodiment, the protective cover mechanism is appliedto a portable electronic device such as a mobile telephone. The mobiletelephone described herein is a representation of the type of portableelectronic device that may benefit from the exemplary embodiment.However, it is to be understood that the exemplary embodiment may beapplied to any type of hand-held or portable device including, but notlimited to, the following devices: radiotelephones, cordless phones,personal digital assistants, and the like. Accordingly, any referenceherein to the mobile telephone should also be considered to applyequally to other portable electronic devices.

FIG. 1 shows an exploded perspective view of a protective covermechanism 100 including a housing 10, a latching piece 20 and aprotective cover 30. The housing 10 can be a back housing or a main bodyof a portable electronic device. The housing 10 includes a base wall 11,a peripheral wall 13 and a holding portion 16 and a latching portion 17.The peripheral wall 13 substantially perpendicularly extends from theperipheral edge of the base wall 11. The peripheral wall 13 includes anend wall 131 substantially perpendicularly extending from an end portionof the base wall 11 and two side walls 133 substantially perpendicularlyextending from two sides of the base wall 11 and connecting the two endsof the end wall 131. The peripheral wall 13 forms two corner portions135 adjacent to the two ends of the end wall 131.

An opening 15 is defined through one corner portion 135 of theperipheral wall 13 for inserting an accessory of the portable electronicdevice such as a stylus (not shown). In other embodiments, the opening15 can be for exposing an external interface (e.g., universal serial bus(USB) or a port for electrically connecting with external devices (e.g.,printers), accessories (e.g., USB flash drives) or other electronicdevices.

The holding portion 16 is formed adjacent to the opening 15 of thecorner portion 135 of the housing 10, thereby forming a receiving space160 together with the base wall 11 and the corner portion 135. Theholding portion 16 is a substantially L-shaped board extendingsubstantially perpendicularly from the base wall 11. One end of theholding portion 16 connects with the adjacent side wall 133, and theother end of the holding portion 16 is located substantially adjacent tothe end wall 131. In this present embodiment, the holding portion 16includes a first holding board 161 substantially parallel to the endwall 131 and a second holding board 162 connecting substantiallyperpendicularly with the first holding board 161 and substantiallyparallel to the side wall 133. The distal end of the first holding board161 substantially perpendicularly connects with the adjacent side wall133. The distal end of the second holding board 162 is spaced from theend wall 131 and a gap is formed (not illustrated) between the end wall131 and the distal end of the second holding board 162. The firstholding board 161, the second holding board 162, the base wall 11, theend wall 131 and the adjacent one side wall 133 cooperatively define areceiving space 160. The first holding board 161 defines a through hole163 opposite to the opening 15.

The latching portion 17 is defined within the gap between the end wall131 and the distal end of the second holding board 162. The latchingportion 17 is configured for assembling and latching with the latchingpiece 20. In this present embodiment, the latching portion 17 issubstantially T-shaped defining a T slot 170 and includes a firstlatching end 171 and an opposite second latching end 172.

The latching piece 20 is detachably assembled to the latching portion 17and configured for rotatably mounting with the protective cover 30, sothat the protective cover 30 can be rotatably assembled to the housing10 to selectively cover the opening 15 or expose the opening 15 to theoutside. The latching piece 20 may be made of a resilient material suchas plastic or rubber. The latching piece 20 includes a T latch 21, twolatching slots 22 and two holding arms 24. The T latch 21 hassubstantially the same size and shape as the T slot 170 of the latchingportion 17, such that the T latch 21 can be tightly engaged within the Tslot 170 of the latching portion 17. The two latching slots 22 aredefined in two opposite sides of the latching piece 20 substantiallyadjacent to the T latch 21 and are configured for respectively latchingwith the first latching end 171 and the second latching end 172 of thelatching portion 17. The two holding arms 24 substantially parallellyextend away from the T latch 21 of the latching piece 20, therebyforming a groove 23 between the two holding arms 24. Each holding arm 24defines a receiving slot 25 in the opposite inner surface, adjacent tothe distal end of the two holding arms 24. The holding arms 24, thereceiving slots 25, and the groove 23 cooperatively form an assemblingspace 26 for assembling the protective cover 30. One receiving slot 25includes a first locating portion 251 formed adjacent to the T latch 21and an opposite second locating portion 253 formed adjacent to thedistal end of the holding arm 24

Referring also to FIG. 2, the protective cover 30 is rotatably assembledto the housing 10 with the latching piece 20, and can be received withinthe receiving space 160 to cover the opening 15 of the housing 10 or beopened to expose the opening 15 to the outside. The protective cover 30includes a base body 31, a covering wall 32 and a hinged post 33. Thecovering wall 32 perpendicularly extends from the base body 31 and hassubstantially the same size and shape as the opening 15 of the housing10. When the protective cover 30 is assembled to the housing 10, thecovering wall 32 can be received and sealed within the opening 15 of thehousing 10. The hinged post 33 protrudes from the base wall 31 and ispositioned at the same side with the covering wall 32. The hinged post33 is substantially cylindrical with substantially the same size andshape as the assembling space 26 of the latching piece 20. A rib portion331 protrudes from the outer peripheral of the hinged post 33. Aresisting portion 35 protrudes from the base wall 31, opposite to thehinged post 33.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, to assemble the protective cover mechanism100, the latching piece 20 is assembled to the latching portion 17, andthe T latch 21 engages into the T slot 170. The first latching end 171and the second latching end 172 latch into the two latching slots 22.The protective cover 30 is rotatably connected to the housing 10 forcovering the opening 15. The hinged post 33 is inserted into and isrotatably assembled within the assembling space 26. The two holding arms24 elastically hold the hinged post 33. The protective cover 30 isrotated towards the opening 15 of the housing 10 until the cover wall 32of the protective cover 30 is completely accommodated within the opening15. The rib portion 331 of the hinged post 33 is rotated to resistagainst the corresponding first locating portion 251. The cover wall 32of the protective cover 30 is accommodated within the opening 15 of theperipheral wall 13 for covering the opening 15.

Referring also to FIG. 5, to release the protective cover 30 forexposing the opening 15, the protective cover 30 is rotated away fromthe housing 10. The hinged post 33 is rotated relative to the latchingpiece 20 and the rib portion 331 is rotated toward and resists on thesecond locating portion 253. The opening 15 of the housing 10 isexposed, facilitating an easy removal of stylus from the housing 10 orallowing the stylus to be attached to the housing 10.

It is to be understood that even though numerous characteristics andadvantages of the exemplary embodiments have been set forth in theforegoing description, together with details of structures and functionsof various embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changesmay be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, andarrangement of parts within the principles of the exemplary invention tothe full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms inwhich the appended claims are expressed.

1. A protective cover mechanism, comprising: a housing having an openingdefined therethrough; a latching piece mounted to the housing adjacentto the opening and comprising two holding arms; and a protective covercomprising a hinged post formed thereon, the protective cover rotatablyassembled to the housing by the hinged post being rotatably held betweenthe two holding arms; the protective cover configured for selectivelycovering or exposing the opening of the housing with rotation of thehinged post relative to latching piece.
 2. The protective covermechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein each holding arm defines areceiving slot therein opposite to each other and together form anassembling space with the two holding arms, for rotatably assembling andreceiving the hinged post therein.
 3. The protective cover mechanism asclaimed in claim 2, wherein one holding arm defines a first locatingportion and a second locating portion within the receiving slot; thehinged post includes a rib portion protruding from the outer peripheralthereof and configured to selectively resist on the corresponding firstlocating portion and the second locating portion respectively as theprotective cover being rotated relative to the housing.
 4. Theprotective cover mechanism as claimed in claim 3, wherein the twoholding arms are parallel to each other thereby forming a groovetherebetween, the first locating portion and the second locating portionare formed at the two ends of the receiving slot.
 5. The protectivecover mechanism as claimed in claim 2, wherein the housing includes alatching portion disposed adjacent to the opening, the latching piece ismade of elastic material and further includes a T latch detachablylatched to the latching portion of the housing.
 6. The protective covermechanism as claimed in claim 5, wherein the latching portion issubstantially T-shaped defining a T slot and includes a first latchingend and an opposite second latching end; the latching piece furtherincludes two latching slots oppositely defined in two sides of thelatching piece adjacent to the T latch; the first latching end and thesecond latching end of the latching portion latch with the correspondingtwo latching slots of the latching piece respectively.
 7. The protectivecover mechanism as claimed in claim 6, wherein the housing furtherincludes a base wall and a peripheral wall extending from the peripheraledge of the base wall; the opening is defined through one corner portionof the peripheral wall; the protective cover further includes a basebody and a covering wall extending from the peripheral of the base bodywith substantially the same size and shape as the opening of thehousing, the hinged post protrudes from the base wall adjacent to oneend thereof and is positioned at the same side with the covering wall.8. The protective cover mechanism as claimed in claim 7, wherein theprotective cover further includes a resisting portion protruding fromthe base wall adjacent to the one end thereof and opposite to the hingedpost; as the protective cover is closed to cover the opening of thehousing, the resisting portion abuts on the corresponding latchingportion.
 9. The protective cover mechanism as claimed in claim 7,wherein the peripheral wall includes an end wall and two side wallsconnecting the two ends of the end wall; the housing further includes aholding portion disposed adjacent to the corner portion thereof, theholding portion includes a first holding board parallel to the end walland a second holding board connects with the first holding board andsubstantially parallel to the side wall; the distal end of the secondholding board is defined spaced to the end wall by forming a gaptherebetween; the latching portion is disposed within the gap betweenthe end wall and the distal end of the second holding board.
 10. Aprotective cover mechanism, comprising: a housing having an openingdefined therethrough; two holding arms formed on the housing and oneholding arm defining a first locating portion and a second locatingportion; and a protective cover rotatably assembled to the housing andcomprising a hinged post formed thereon; the hinged post held betweenthe two holding arms, and configured to rotate relative to the holdingarm from the first locating portion to the second locating portion; suchthat, the protective cover being selectively covering the opening of thehousing or opened to expose the opening of the housing.
 11. Theprotective cover mechanism as claimed in claim 10, wherein the hingedpost includes a rib portion protruding from the outer peripheralthereof, each holding arm defines a receiving slot therein opposite toeach other thereby forming an assembling space together; the hinged postis rotatably assembled with in the assembling space, the rib portionselectively resist on corresponding first locating portion or the secondlocating portion.
 12. The protective cover mechanism as claimed in claim10, wherein the protective cover further includes a base body and acovering wall extending from the peripheral of the base body withsubstantially the same size and shape as the opening of the housing, thehinged post protrudes from the base wall adjacent to one end thereof andis positioned at the same side with the covering wall.
 13. Theprotective cover mechanism as claimed in claim 12, wherein theprotective cover mechanism further includes a latching piece assembledto the housing adjacent to the opening, the latching piece includes a Tlatch, the two holding arms extend out away from the T latch, thereby,forming a groove spaced therebetween; the hinged post of the protectivecover is received in the groove and elastically held by the two holdingarms.
 14. The protective cover mechanism as claimed in claim 12, whereinthe housing further includes a lathing portion disposed adjacent to theopening, the T latch of the latching piece is latched to latchingportion of the housing.
 15. The protective cover mechanism as claimed inclaim 5, wherein the latching portion is substantially T-shaped andincludes a first latching end and an opposite second latching end; thelatching piece further includes two latching slots oppositely defined intwo sides of the latching piece adjacent to the T latch; the firstlatching end and the second latching end of the latching portion latchwith the corresponding two latching slots of the latching piecerespectively.